By the pricking of my thumbs

Within the first ten pages, there were mentions of Ella Moss, Neiman Marcus, Prada, Range Rovers, and Chantico drinking chocolate (even hot beverages must be branded!). In fact, it broke down to 1.8 brand mentions per page, which is staggering when you consider that each page had about 160 words. The characters consuming these lux brands were supposed to be seventh graders.

Ms. Wells said she would not change a brand that she felt was at the core of a particular character’s identity merely to cement a marketing partnership. "Mackenzie loves Converse," she said, referring to the series’s heroine and the popular sneaker brand she favors. "Does Converse want to work with us? I have no clue. But that doesn’t negate the fact that Mackenzie loves Converse."

See? Character development!

And here I am, writing spec fic, and painfully aware that the manufacturers of space ships and broadswords are reluctant to shell out for product placement.